Boarding Call

Conor Mangan, originally from Cork, Ireland, moved to Canada 12 years ago. His career as a professional rugby and football player took him across both Canada and the United States before he eventually made Toronto his home. Today, he works as a real estate agent, bringing the same drive and adaptability that defined his athletic years to his life and career in Canada.

Paul Strikwerda is originally from the Netherlands but moved to the United States 25 years ago, eventually settling in Vermont. Over the years, he has built a career as a professional voice actor, and has also been making content online. Having spent so much of his life in the U.S. gives this Dutchman a unique perspective on both countries.

David Wen is from California who moved to the Netherlands to pursue his Master’s degree. What began as a study abroad experience grew into seven years of living in the country, where he fully immersed himself in Dutch culture and daily life. While in the Netherlands, David also began creating YouTube videos about Dutch culture and life in Europe.

Josh Collins was born in the United States but moved to Okinawa, Japan, when he was in sixth grade. He spent nearly a decade growing up there, navigating life as a third culture kid and balancing both American and Japanese influences. Fluent in the language and deeply connected to the culture, Japan still feels like home to him even though he now resides in the U.S.

Tait Lawton is a Canadian from Edmonton who has maintained a deep connection with China for over 20 years. Altogether, he has spent a decade living in Nanjing, where he met his wife, achieved fluency in Mandarin, and even started his own business. Today, Tait runs a marketing agency based in China while also creating content in both Mandarin and English that covers current events, pop culture, and language. 

Cole Fogle is a Canadian from Toronto who first moved to Taiwan nearly 26 years ago. Over the years, he went back and forth between Canada and Taiwan in search of a place to call home, eventually settling in Taiwan, where he built a life with his wife and their two children. Cole creates content about daily life in Taiwan, often featuring interviews with other foreigners who have also made the island their home.

Nick Pilgrim is a Russian-Ukrainian musician and content creator who fled Ukraine at the onset of the war. Holding dual citizenship between two countries in conflict, he faced immense challenges navigating borders and leaving Russia during a time of heightened political tension. Two years ago, he finally began a new chapter in Canada and now calls Edmonton, Alberta  home.

Fabien, originally from Marseille, France, has lived in Denmark for the past nine years, while Anastasia, from Saint Petersburg, Russia, has called Denmark home for seven. Together, they are based in Copenhagen, where they are raising their two children in a multilingual environment. Drawing on their own experiences of navigating life abroad, they create content about raising kids in a foreign country, language learning, and overcoming cultural differences.

Jonny Arnott is a Canadian traveler and content creator from Ottawa who has visited 34 countries. After an intensive backpacking trip, he moved to Amsterdam on a working-holiday visa, where he lived for a year. Drawing from his wide-ranging travel experiences across the globe, Jonny creates content that offers a window into the cultures, food, and adventures that have shaped his journey.

Alex is a Russian content creator who has spent the past 11 years living in Taiwan. Based in Tainan, he creates insightful and engaging content that often features fellow foreigners navigating life on the island. From food and festivals to language and local customs, Alex offers a unique perspective on Taiwanese culture—one shaped by being both an outsider and long-term resident.